MY LATEST AWARD

I Won the Tri-Valley Writers 2017 Conference 

Prose Contest Award!

I attended a Writers Conference Saturday -- a full day of presentations and networking put on by the Tri-Valley Writers Club in Pleasanton, CA. It was well done, inspiring, and motivating. I met some interesting writers, learned some helpful tips, and even won an award!

When I registered for the conference, I submitted some poems and a short story to their contest. After a full day of listening to other writers share their experiences and offer us advice, we assembled for the presentation of awards. The poetry awardee wasn't present, so they went right to the short story award. There were three top stories and they held us in suspense by giving comments first about the 3rd place story, then the second place story, and finally the first place winner. As they described the story, I started to shake because it sounded like my story! Yes, it was my "Ma and Pa" story that won! 

I was thrilled, over the moon, excited, and just like on TV, choked up with emotion. I stumbled to the podium to read my story to the group while teared up and nearly flat out crying. I wished I could have read it better, but folks came up to me and congratulated me and said it was a very moving piece, so I guess most of it came through.

How to top a high like that? Stay tuned--maybe another story or poem will win at the San Mateo County Fair in June. I love the California Writers Club!

Penelope Anne Cole Multi-Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea, Magical Mea Goes to School, Magical Max and 

Magical Mickey, and  Magical Max and Magical Mickey’s Big Surprise

In and Out, All ‘Round About – Opposite Friends

What’s for Dinner? and ¿Qué vamos a comer?:

For Halloween: Ten Little Tricksters and Diez pequeños bromistas

New:  My Grandma and Me Coloring Book
Web/Blogs:  http://www.penelopeannecole.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PenelopeAnneColeAuthor

FREE Skype Author School Visits

THE ACCIDENT

The Accident

Two weeks ago I got the call every parent fears—my daughter called me from an accident scene, her accident scene. She was incoherent and said to call 9-1-1. All I got was the location, that the car was totally wrecked, and her friend’s name. I was twelve minutes away at church and didn’t know how serious the accident was. Was my beloved daughter calling me before she succumbed to her injuries? Was her friend injured or worse? I was too panicked to call 9-1-1, so I had friends at church call and I roared across town as carefully and legally as I could under the circumstances.

I wanted to push the other cars off the road. I wanted a flashing light and siren escort. When I got on the overpass above the intersection, I saw my daughter and her friend standing by the wreck of her car. The police were there ahead of me. I had to go with the traffic flow, but I got there and parked on the side road. I inspected both my girl and her friend while the police interviewed the other driver. I went over to the wreck and we took pictures (but forgot to take pics of the other car). She’d gotten his name and number, as had the police. I saw the air bags had deployed, the front end of the car was totally smashed in, with pieces along the curb line. I picked up her bent personalized license plate—a Christmas gift—from the rubble. I saw the city light pole, the stop sign, and the chain link construction fence she’d mowed down. I was grateful for the air bags, the relatively slow traffic, and the 5 star crash rating. When the other car turned left and then crashed into my daughter, he didn’t have the right of way and he couldn’t see her. He took a dangerous chance that it was clear. His move caused her to swerve into the side resulting in the damage—a total loss.

 

After the police took everyone’s statements, two tow trucks loaded up the two vehicles. The police suggested the girls get checked out medically, so another friend drove my daughter’s friend to her medical provider and I took my girl to the Kaiser ER. We were there for four hours but all they found were the bruises from the seat belt and the scratches from the air bags. The ER doctor checked her for a concussion and she was offered X-rays/MRIs, but also counseled against them since she didn’t show signs of really needing any. We waited for blood and urine tests to check for internal injuries. Everything checked out, so we went home to rest.

The good news was the accident happened on my daughter’s spring college break. The bad news was that she started having anxiety, panic attacks, increased headaches, irritability, mood swings. She couldn’t do her part time weekend job. She couldn’t sit in lecture classes last week. She’s needing more sleep. She’s gone to two doctor’s appointments and has a therapist appointment scheduled. Two weeks later she’s slowly getting better. She worked one day this weekend. She can almost sit through an entire movie. She’s going to try to go to class tomorrow and see her counselor. She’s still not driving much. We still haven’t gone car shopping. I’m wanting to put her in a Tank and she wants a small sporty car.

And what about me, her mother? I’m anxious, nervous, afraid to leave her alone, afraid for her to drive. I’m not sleeping that well either. But little by little, we’ll get through this. I’m also very grateful, very happy, very thankful that it wasn’t worse. She was lucky. We were lucky. Guardian Angel lucky. Amen and Happy Easter.

Penelope Anne Cole
Multi-Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea, Magical Mea Goes to School, Magical Max and Magical Mickey, and Magical Max and Magical Mickey’s Big Surprise

In and Out, All ‘Round About – Opposite Friends

What’s for Dinner? and ¿Qué vamos a comer?:

For Halloween: Ten Little Tricksters and Diez pequeños bromistas

New:  My Grandma and Me Coloring Book
Web/Blogs:  http://www.penelopeannecole.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PenelopeAnneColeAuthor

FREE Skype Author School Visits